Happy Friday! ☀️
Hello from Vienna at the end of a confetti week filled with a broad range of smaller and bigger projects in life and work. I’m bracing for a busy September on the road across Germany with coaching clients and a special family & friends gathering at the end of the month.
What I’m reading 📖
The founders I work with in my coaching practice often ask me for recommendations for books that can help them grow beyond the work we do during the coaching sessions. I’ve shared several here before and The High Growth Handbook is another one. Elad Gil has worked with some well-known companies in Silicon Valley and translated his experiences into a practical handbook for CEOs. Parts of his book are accessible on his website and I like how it’s structured. Read more.
What I’m listening to 🎧
It’s September and with that, a new Spotify playlist with songs that carried me through the month of August like new songs by Betterov, Matthew And The Atlas, and Black Pumas.
What I’m watching 📺
Season 1 of Winning Time was highly entertaining, I found, and a few weeks ago Season 2 started with a continuation of the rise of the LA Lakers and their rookie star at the time, Magic Johnson. Watch the trailer for Season 2.
What I’m thinking about 🧠
Personal branding is a trend that consistently creates an inner tension in me and a quote I saw this week to make a case for personal branding irritated me greatly. It read: “If you’re not visible, you don’t happen.”
One the one side, I understand its goal and motivation while on the other it gives me a sense of unease and here’s why: brands are manufactured and people are not.
Debbie Millman says that “brands chase consistency by reorienting to match the expectations of consumers” and I’d argue that people should not have to chase that. Further, she says that “brands are static creations, while you must be a dynamic participant in your life and career. Brands let the consensus of others dictate their values and meaning, while you must discover both for yourself. The risk is that your life endeavors are filtered through the lens of marketability rather than the pursuit of their intrinsic worth.”
To me, it comes down to the key question whether or not I want to live in congruence with who I am and what I want or cater to what my audience expects of me.
What else?! 💯
LinkedIn hasn’t been on my top of the list for posting content about my coaching practice for a number of reasons. But my ForChiefs colleague Niko has started posting consistently for a few months and I found his content appealing and beautiful. Check out his profile and follow if you like what you read.
Thanks for reading, have a great weekend!
David
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